How risky are social networking sites? A comparison of places online where youth sexual solicitation and harassment occurs
Date
2008
Authors
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Publisher
Pediatrics
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. Recently, public attention has focused on the possibility that social networking
sites such as MySpace and Facebook are being widely used to sexually solicit
underage youth, consequently increasing their vulnerability to sexual victimization.
Beyond anecdotal accounts, however, whether victimization is more commonly
reported in social networking sites is unknown.
PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS. The Growing up With Media Survey is a national crosssectional
online survey of 1588 youth. Participants were 10- to 15-year-old youth
who have used the Internet at least once in the last 6 months. The main outcome
measures were unwanted sexual solicitation on the Internet, defined as unwanted
requests to talk about sex, provide personal sexual information, and do something
sexual, and Internet harassment, defined as rude or mean comments, or spreading of
rumors.
RESULTS. Fifteen percent of all of the youth reported an unwanted sexual solicitation
online in the last year; 4% reported an incident on a social networking site specifi-
cally. Thirty-three percent reported an online harassment in the last year; 9%
reported an incident on a social networking site specifically. Among targeted youth,
solicitations were more commonly reported via instant messaging (43%) and in chat
rooms (32%), and harassment was more commonly reported in instant messaging
(55%) than through social networking sites (27% and 28%, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS. Broad claims of victimization risk, at least defined as unwanted sexual solicitation or harassment,
associated with social networking sites do not seem justified. Prevention efforts may have a greater impact if they
focus on the psychosocial problems of youth instead of a specific Internet application, including funding for online
youth outreach programs, school antibullying programs, and online mental health services.
Description
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Keywords
internet safety, harrassment, solicitation, victimization, public policy
Citation
Ybarra, M. L., & Mitchell, K. J. (2008). How risky are social networking sites? A comparison of places online where youth sexual solicitation and harassment occurs. Pediatrics, 121(2), e350-e357.